Horace james medbery



(No Model.)

H. J. MEDBERY. GONDU I T FUR UNDERGROUND TROLLEY WIRE S. No. 447,338.

Patented Mar. 3,1891.

WIT SSES;

c; 7 ziflwzz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE JAMES MEDBERY, OF BALL STON, NEVV-YORK.

CONDUIT FOR UNDERGROUND TROLLEY-WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,338, dated March 3, 1891. Application filed November 21, 1890. Serial No. 372,146. (No model.)

it consists in constructing the container orconduit in a manner and of a material never heretofore employed, so far'as I am aware, and by it I secure not only perfect insulation of the trolley-wire, but the conduit is also water-proof and gas-proof and practicallyinde structible, and water or dirt is prevented from entering into it, which might interfere with the operation of the apparatus.

The figure of the drawing hereof illustrates the invention as inclosed within an exterior case, the side and end whereof have been broken away to disclose the conduit within it.

A is my improved conduit. It is made of wood pulp or other fiber or pulp, which is either pressed into the form shown under a great pressure, whereby it is rendered hard and rigid, or it may be made in sheet form, and then when heated or not hot, as necessary, be given this shape, andit may be subjected to additional pressure after it has assumed this shape, if desired. It will be noticed that the edges .8 B of the partially-tubular sections are not coincident with each other either radially or circumferentially, but that one edge lies Within the other-in other Words, the edges overlap. This overlapping is to such an extent'that it will be impossible for dirt or water to drop into the conduit from above.

The conduit is made in sections and is supported in any suitable way Within an outer case or box (3, which has a slot D in its upper surface, through which the trolley-arm E 6X- tends, in which there is an elbow F, whereby it passes into the conduit through the space between the overlapping edges, and it has the usual trolley-wheel G on its end, which engages with the trolley H, as usual. This wire is supported within the conduit in any preferred manner, several methods "being now used.

The conduit A is supported within the casing or box 0 by brackets, cradles, or otherwise, as preferred. I show it as in cradles I, which are suitably fastened to the bottom or sides of the case. Any suitable means may be employed forthis purpose. The ends of the several sections composing the conduit may be dovetailed or otherwise formed, so as to fit closely together and mutually sustain each other, and there may be such cementing ma terial used as desired in the joints, or they may be wrapped with an exteriorly-applied stiff piece of the same material as that composing the conduit, as shown at J, or of other material, which should preferably, however, be a non-conductor of electricity. I ordinarily do not use the fiber pulp alone, but saturate or impregnate it with preservative and gas and water resisting composition, such as asphalt, coal-tar, pitch, tar, or equivalent substances, whereby its solidity is increased and it is rendered impervious to water, vermin, gas action, &c.

It will be observed that the supportsI may be placed at any desired part of the several sections, and also that the slot in the external case may be at one side of the top thereof, so that the trolley-wire E may pass upwardly near one side of the box. This saves material in the case and avoids the necessity under some circumstances for specially supporting the narrower side of the cover otherwise than upon the side of the case. The other or wider'side may be strengthened by brackets A, of metal or other material, and it will be further observed that the cradles I or their equivalents lift the conduit off from the bottom of the casing. Thus should water get in it would have to be of very considerable depth before it could get within the conduit proper. I also provide holes K in the exterior case for the escape of the water, there being suitable sewer connections whereby the water can run' off.

In order that the vertical movement of the car may not injure the conduit, I prefer to fasten a track, or rather strips of metal, L L on the boX,both inside and-out, near the slab, upon which small wheels M M and N Nmay roll, which turn on studs or shafts attached to the trolley-arm E. Thus that arm is maintained in a substantially rigid position vertically, and I attach the trolley-arm to the car by springs O O, which have a 'stay-piece P P upon their ends for the better support of the trolley-arm longitudinally. They will of course yield readily to the movements of the car, and thus no damage follow to the conduit. One spring only will be sufficient, and the exact arrangement shown need not be adapted,

It will be seen that naked wires may be used in my conduit, since it is a perfect insulator in itself, and of course the trolleywheel may be so arranged as to bear upwardly against the wire instead of downwardly thereon, if preferred.

I do not limit myself to the details of construction shown, since it will be apparent to those who are familiar with this art that they may be somewhat departed from and still my invention be employed.

I claim- 1. Aconduitmade, essentially, of fiber pulp and of substantially tubular form, the meeting edges, however, of which are not coincident either in circumferential or radial lines, substantially as set forth.

2. A conduit made, essen ially, of fiber pulp and of substantially tubular form, the meeting edges, however, of which are not coincicent, but which overlap each other, substantially as set forth.

3. A conduit comprising an exterior casing and an interior conduit made, essentially, of fiber pulp formed into substantially tubular form, the meeting edges, however, of which overlap, substantially as set forth.

4. Aconduit composed of fiber pulp treated with preservative material and formed into substantially tubular form, the meeting edges, however, of which overlap, substantially as set forth.

5. A conduit comprising an exterior casing and an interior tube composed of fiber pulp, the edges of which overlap each other, and supports for the several sections, whereby the tube is removed from contact with the exterior casing, substantially as set forth.

6. A conduit comprising, essentially, an exterior casing having a longitudinal slot at one side of its medial line and an interior tube composed of fiber pulp treated with preservative material, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a conduitthe edges whereof overlap, a casing for the conduit, and a trolley-arm which enters the conduit and is held against vertical movement, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a conduit the edges whereof overlap, a casing for the conduit, a trolley-arm which enters the conduit and is held against vertical movement, and a flexible connection between the trolley-arm and the car, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Ballston, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York. this 10th day of November, A. D. 1890.

HORACE JAMES MEDBERY.

\Vitnesses:

S. C. MEDBERY, CHARLES E. FITCHAM. 

